Collaborative projects (CP)

Purpose: Collaborative projects are objective driven research projects aiming at deve­loping new knowledge, new technology, products, demonstration activities or common resources for research in order to improve European competitiveness or to address major societal needs. As such, they may also be targeted to special groups, such as SMEs and other smaller actors.


Specific Programmes concerned: This Funding Scheme is to be used for the implementation of the actions under the Specific Programmes “Cooperation” and "Capacities".


Participation: There must be at least three "legal entities" established in different EU Member States or Associated countries (the countries concerned are listed in http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/who_en.html). The entities must be independent of each other. A higher number of participants may be specified on a call-by-call basis. (See the call fiche).


Size and resources: The size, scope and internal organisation of collaborative projects can vary from research theme to research theme and from topic to topic. A call may distinguish between different forms of collaborative project (projects can range from small or medium-scale focused research actions to large-scale integrating projects for achieving a defined objective) based on limits to the requested EC financial contribution. Any such limits will be indicated in the call fiche, and will be applied as eligibility criteria.


Indicative average duration: Collaborative projects are expected to last typically two to five years. However, there is no formal minimum or maximum duration.


Activities: The activities to be carried out in the context of a collaborative project should include:

  • research and technological development activities, reflecting the core activities of the project, aimed at a significant advance beyond the established state-of-the-art, inclu­ding scientific coordination and/or
  • demonstration activities, designed to prove the viability of new technologies that offer a potential economic advantage, but which cannot be commercialised directly (e.g. testing of product-like prototypes) and management activities, over and above the technical management of individual work packages, linking together all the project components and maintaining communications with the Commission
  • any other activities such as:
    • activities directly related to the project’s objectives (as identified in the relevant work programme or call for proposals) and likely to have a potential impact on the outcome of the project (e.g. debates and initiatives on issues such as ethics, gender, socio-economic, etc.);
    • activities to disseminate research results and to prepare for their take-up and use, including knowledge management and, activities directly related to the protection of foreground;
    • training of researchers and key staff, including research managers and industrial exe­cutives (in particular for SMEs) and any potential users of the knowledge generated by the project. The training should aim to improve the professional development of the personnel concerned.

Form of Reimbursement: Reimbursement will be based on eligible costs (based on maximum rates of reimbursement specified in the grant agreement for different types of activities within the project). In some cases the reimbursement of indirect costs is based on a